In addition to the definitions provided in the Act of May 30, 1984,
P.L. 345, No. 69, known as the First Class City Business Tax Reform Act, and
Chapter 19-500 of this Title, the following definitions shall
apply:
Affiliated Group. One or more chains of corporations
connected through stock ownership with a common parent corporation
if:
(1) Stock possessing at least eighty (80%) percent of the voting
power of all classes of stock and at least eighty (80%) percent of each class of
the nonvoting stock of each corporation, except the common parent corporation,
is owned directly by one or more of the other corporations.
(2) The
common parent corporation owns directly stock possessing at least eighty (80%)
percent of the voting power of all classes of stock and at least eighty (80%)
percent of each class of the nonvoting stock of at least one of the other
corporations.
As used in this definition, "stock" does not include
nonvoting stock which is limited and preferred as to
dividends.
Business. Carrying on or exercising for gain or profit
within a city of the first class, any trade, business, including financial
business as hereinafter defined, profession, vocation or commercial activity,
including the partial or complete liquidation or sale of business assets, or
making sales to persons within such city of the first class. "Business" shall
not include the
following:
[337] (1) Any
business conducted by a nonprofit corporation or association or association
organized for religious, charitable, or education purposes, the business of any
political subdivision, or of any authority created and organized under and
pursuant to law of this Commonwealth, and the business of any credit union
chartered under the laws of this Commonwealth.
(2) The specific
business conducted by any public utility operating under the laws, rules and
regulations administered by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission or
conducted by a business subject to the jurisdiction of the Interstate Commerce
Commission of furnishing or supplying service or services at the rates specified
in its tariffs.
(3) The business of any insurance company, association
or exchange, or any fraternal, benefit or beneficial society of any other state
under the laws of which insurance companies, associations or exchanges or
fraternal, benefit or beneficial societies of this Commonwealth doing business
in such other state are subjected, by reason of the tax imposed by this act, to
additional or further taxes, fines, penalties or license fees by such other
state.
(4) Any employment for a wage or salary.
(5) For the
tax year 1986 and thereafter, the business of loading or discharging cargo to or
from vessels conducted on piers, wharves or marine terminal facilities in the
Port of Philadelphia and business activities related thereto such as furnishing
dockage, wharfage, truck and/or railroad car loading and unloading and storage
of cargo which is to be loaded or has been discharged from vessels at a pier,
wharf or marine terminal facility in the Port of
Philadelphia.
[338] Collector.
The receiver of taxes in cities of the first
class.
Community-Based Organization. Any group affiliated with,
or organized for the benefit of, one or more communities or neighborhoods; or
any group organized to benefit the quality of life in a residential
area.
Cost of Goods. In the case of a retailer or wholesaler, the
cost of goods, wares, commodities, and merchandise purchased by the retailer or
wholesaler and resold by him, such cost to include all freight-in
charges.
Cost of Labor. In the case of a retailer or wholesaler,
the cost of the labor of his employees used in receiving, storing, shipping, and
delivering the goods, wares, commodities, or merchandise purchased for resale
and the cost of the salaries or commissions paid to his employees for making the
actual sales of the goods, commodities or merchandise.
Dividends.
Any distribution made by a corporation to its shareholders in respect of its
stock, whether ordinary, extraordinary or in liquidation.
Drug
Paraphernalia. Drug paraphernalia as defined in the Act of December 4, 1980,
P.L. 1093, No. 186, Section 1, 35 P.S.
780-102.
[339] Financial
Business. Other than the business of any regulated industry, the services
and transactions of private banks and bankers; building and loan associations;
savings and loan associations; credit unions; savings banks; banks; bank and
trust companies; trust companies; investment companies registered as such with
the Federal Securities and Exchange Commission; holding companies; persons
registered under the act of December 5, 1972 (P.L. 1280), known as the
Pennsylvania Securities Act of 1972, including traders, dealers and brokers in
money, credits, commercial paper, bonds, notes, securities and stocks, and
monetary metals; factors and commission merchants.
Illegal Drugs.
All drug products the sale of which is prohibited in the Commonwealth, as
identified, or as named, in The Act of April 14, 1972, P.L. 233, No. 64,
Sections 3 and 4; as amended; 35 P.S. Section 780-103, 104, as
amended.
Information Technology Company. A person whose business
is categorized as electronic data processing services (NAIC 5142 and 51421),
computer systems design and related services (NAIC 5415, 54151, and 541512),
custom computer programming services (NAIC 541511), computer facilities
management services (NAIC 541513), and on-line information services (NAIC
514191), as set forth in the North American Industry Classification System, 1997
("NAIC") codes established by the Office of Management and Budget, Executive
Office of the
President.
[340] Manufacturer.
A person whose business is the sale of goods, commodities, wares or
merchandise of its own manufacture, growth or production.
Net
Income.
(a) "Net income" shall, at the option of the taxpayer,
which option shall not be revokable by the taxpayer after it has been exercised
as provided for by the collector, be either:
(1) The net gain from the
operation of a business, after provision for all allowable costs and expenses
actually incurred in the conduct thereof, either paid or accrued in accordance
with the accounting system used, without deduction of taxes based on income;
or
(2) The taxable income from any business activity as returned to
and ascertained by the Federal Government prior to giving effect to the
exclusion for dividends received and net operating loss, subject to the
following adjustments:
(i) A deduction for dividends, interest and
royalty income and other receipts excluded from the definition of receipts under
paragraphs (5) and (7) of that definition, but only to the extent that such
dividends, interest, royalty and other receipts are included in taxable income
as returned to and ascertained by the Federal Government as heretofore
defined.
(ii) A deduction for net income attributable to receipts
that are excluded under paragraph (6) or (9) of the definition of "receipts" of
this
section.
[341] (iii) A
deduction for income received from all obligations of the United States,
including stocks, bonds and Treasury notes and other obligations of the United
States.
(iv) An increase for interest expense attributable to these
stocks, bonds and Treasury notes and other obligations of the United States or
any of its political subdivisions which is exempt from taxation of income under
the laws of the United States or of the Commonwealth. The increase shall not
exceed the deduction claimed in subparagraph (iii).
(v) A deduction
for net income of persons registered under the Pennsylvania Securities Act of
1972 other than the net income attributable to commissions and similar charges
on account of transactions effected for persons residing or having their
principal place of business within a city of the first class.
(b) In
the case of a corporation participating in the filing of a consolidated
corporate return to the Federal Government, net income shall mean the income
from any business activity which would have been returned to and ascertained by
the Federal Government, subject, however to any correction thereof for fraud,
evasion or error as finally ascertained by the Federal Government.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this act, no taxpayer shall be required
or permitted to participate in the filing of a consolidated or combined tax
return under this act.
(c) The collector shall establish rules and
regulations and methods of apportionment and allocation and evaluation so that
only that part of such net income or net operating loss which is properly
attributable and allocable to the doing of business in the city of the first
class levying the tax shall be taxed hereunder. The collector may make an
apportionment and allocation with due regard to the nature of the business
concerned on the basis of mileage, the ratio of the taxable receipts of the
taxpayer from within the city to the total receipts of the taxpayer, the ratio
of the value of the tangible personal and real property owned or leased and
situated in the city levying the tax to the total tangible personal and real
property of the taxpayer wherever owned and situated, the ratio of the wages,
salaries, commissions and other compensation paid by the taxpayer within the
city levying the tax to the total wages, salaries, commissions and other
compensation paid by the taxpayer, and any other method or methods of
apportionment and allocation other than the foregoing, calculated to effect a
fair and proper apportionment and allocation. The net income of a person which
is described as being subject to a tax pursuant to Article VII, VIII, IX or XV
of the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L. 6, No. 2), known as the Tax Reform Code of
1971, shall be allocated, and apportioned to a city of the first class in
accordance with a fraction of which the numerator shall be "receipts" as defined
and limited in this section, and the denominator shall be receipts regardless of
whether received in or apportionable to the city of the first
class.
(d) After apportioning and allocating net income, apportioned
and allocated net operating losses carried forward shall be
deducted.
Net Operating Loss:
(1) In the case of a
person conducting its entire business within a city of the first class, any net
losses incurred from the operation of its business as returned to and
ascertained by the Federal Government prior to giving effect to the exclusion
for dividends received and net operating loss subject to the same adjustments
made applicable to net income in this section. In the case of a person
conducting its business both within and without a city of the first class, any
net operating loss incurred which is carried forward to another tax year shall
be allocated and apportioned in the same manner as net income prior to its being
deducted from apportioned and allocated net income in the subsequent tax year.
Apportionment and allocation of net operating loss shall be based upon
allocation and apportionment factors applicable to the year in which the net
operating loss was incurred.
(2) Net operating losses incurred in
another tax period may be carried over for three (3) tax years following the
year in which it was incurred. The earliest net loss shall be carried over to
the earliest taxable year to which it may be carried.
Occupier.
Any person, group or business occupying private property under any form of
agreement with the owner or manager whether written or unwritten or without an
agreement, or at sufferance.
Owner. A legal owner of property, no
matter what the form or length of such ownership.
Person. Any
individual, partnership, limited partnership, association, corporation, estate
or trust. Whenever used in any provision prescribing or imposing a penalty, the
term "person," as applied to associations, shall mean the partners or members
thereof, and as applied to corporations, the officers thereof.
Port
of Philadelphia. Piers, wharves and marine terminal facilities entering into
or abutting either the Delaware or Schuylkill Rivers which are within the
confines of the City of
Philadelphia.
[342] Private
Nuisance. Any unreasonable interference with another’s right to use
and enjoy private property. A public nuisance which affects private rights is
also actionable as a private nuisance.
Public Nuisance. Any
unreasonable interference with a public right of more than three (3) people
caused by any activity or condition which violates The Philadelphia Code, an
ordinance, or any statute.
Receipts. Cash, credits, property of
any kind or nature, received from conducting any business or by reason of any
sale made, including resales of goods, wares or merchandise taken by a dealer as
a trade-in or as part payment for other goods, wares or merchandise or services
rendered or commercial or business transactions, without deduction therefrom on
account of the cost of property sold, materials used, labor, service or other
cost, interest or discount paid or any other expense. For the purpose of
determining receipts from the business of insurance, such receipts shall mean
those from premiums received from risks within the city of the first class,
whether by mutual or stock companies, domestic or foreign, without any
deductions therefrom for any cost or expenses whatsoever; except, premiums shall
not include return premiums, dividends paid or credited to policyholders, if
such dividends are in the nature of an adjustment of the premiums charged, and
premiums received for reinsurance. Receipts from a person engaged in the
business of insurance shall also include receipts from rental real estate
situated in cities of the first class, but shall not include interest, dividend
and capital gain receipts. Nothing in this definition shall preclude the
taxation of other nonpremium business receipts of persons engaged in the
business of insurance. Receipts of any business shall exclude:
(1) The
amount of any allowance made for goods, wares or merchandise taken by a dealer
as a trade-in or as part payment for other goods, wares and merchandise in the
usual and ordinary course of his business.
(2) In the case of a
financial business or a person which is described as being subject to a tax
imposed pursuant to Article VII, VIII or XV of the Tax Reform Code of 1971, the
cost of securities and other property sold, exchanged, paid at maturity, or
redeemed; moneys or credits received in repayment of the principal amount of
deposits, advances, credits, loans and other obligations; interest received on
account of deposits, advances, credits, loans and other obligations made to
persons resident or having their principal place of business outside such city;
interest received on account of other deposits, advances, credits, loans and
other obligations but only to the extent of interest expense attributable to
such deposits, advances, credits, loans and other obligations and shall also
exclude payments received on account of shares purchased by
shareholders.
(3) In the case of a broker, any commissions paid by him
to another broker on account of a purchase or sales contract initiated, executed
or cleared in conjunction with such other broker, except where either is an
employee of the other.
(4) Receipts by dealers from sales to other
dealers in the same line, where the dealer transfers title or possession at the
same price for which he acquired the goods, wares or
merchandise.
(5) Dividends, interest and royalties received by one
corporation from:
(i) a corporation of the same affiliated group,
or
(ii) a corporation of which the receiving corporation owns at least
twenty (20%) percent of the voting power of all classes of stock and at least
twenty (20%) percent of each class of nonvoting stock.
(6) Receipts
from the specific business conducted by any public utility operating under the
laws, rules and regulations administered by the Pennsylvania Public Utility
Commission or conducted by a business subject to the jurisdiction of the
Interstate Commerce Commission of furnishing or supplying service or services at
the rates specified in its tariffs.
(7) Receipts by a corporation which
is a member of an affiliated group from other members of the same affiliated
group.
(8) Commissions and similar charges received by persons
registered under the Pennsylvania Securities Act of 1972, on account of
transactions effected for persons resident and having their principal place of
business outside the city of the first class.
(9) For the tax year 1986
and thereafter, receipts from the business of loading or discharging cargo to or
from vessels conducted on piers, wharves or marine terminal facilities in the
Port of Philadelphia and from business activities related thereto such as
furnishing dockage, wharfage, truck and/or railroad car loading and unloading
and storage of cargo which is to be loaded or has been discharged from vessels
at a pier, wharf or marine terminal facility in the Port of
Philadelphia.
[343] (10) Beginning
with the tax year 1996 and thereafter, receipts, or portion of receipts,
attributable to the bona fide delivery of fiber, yarn, fabric or materials that
have been dyed by a chemical mechanical process to a location regularly
maintained by the other party to the transaction outside the limits of the city
of the first class, and not for the purpose of evading or avoiding payment of
the tax, or any portion thereof, imposed under this
act.
[344] (11) For the
tax year 2001 through and including the tax year 2006, any receipts, or a
portion of a receipt, from the specific business conducted by an information
technology
company.
[345] Regulated
Industry. A person subject to a tax pursuant to Articles VII, VIII, IX or XV
of the Tax Reform Code of 1971 or any public utility operating under the laws,
rules and regulations administered by the Pennsylvania Public Utility
Commission, all or a portion of the activities of which is to furnish or supply
service or services at the rates specified in its tariffs.
Retailer.
A person whose business is the sale of goods, commodities, wares or
merchandise to persons who are not dealers or vendors of those goods,
commodities, wares or merchandise.
Sale. Transfer of title to
goods, wares, commodities or merchandise, regardless of where accomplished, the
delivery of which is made by the seller within a city of the first class. "Sale"
shall not include any intra-company transfer.
Taxable
Receipts.
(1) Receipts, as defined and limited in this section,
within the limits of the city of the first class.
(2) Taxable receipts
shall exclude the following:
(i) receipts or portion of receipts
attributable to any sale involving the bona fide delivery of goods, commodities,
wares or merchandise to a location regularly maintained by the other party to
the transaction outside the limits of a city of the first class, and not for the
purpose of evading or avoiding payment of the tax, or any portion thereof,
imposed under this act;
(ii) receipts or portion of receipts received
for any services actually performed outside the limits of a city of the first
class and not for the purpose of evading or avoiding payment of the tax, or any
portion of it imposed, under this act.
(3) Taxable receipts of persons
making sales or rendering services both inside and outside a city of the first
class, or both, are to be segregated.
(4) In the event, and only in the
event, taxable receipts as defined in this paragraph are incapable of
segregation, the collector shall establish rules and regulations and methods of
allocation and apportionment and evaluation so that only that part of such
taxable receipts which is properly attributable to the doing of business within
a city of the first class levying this tax shall be taxed
hereunder.
Tax Measurement Year. The fiscal or calendar year by
which the person engaging in business keeps its books and records for federal
tax purposes.
[346] Tax
Year. A 12-month period from January 1 to December
31.
Wholesaler. A person whose business is the sale of goods,
commodities, wares or merchandise to dealers or vendors of those goods,
commodities, wares or merchandise.